Staff Dentist

Full Job Description

The incumbent is expected to support an excellent patient experience by delivering respectful, timely, and Veteran-centered care; explaining findings, treatment options, risks, benefits, and alternatives in language patients can understand; and promoting shared decision-making throughout treatment.

The dentist will communicate with professionalism and compassion, respond appropriately to patient concerns, and work with the dental team to improve access, continuity and comfort with care.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Dentist Basic Requirements A degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery or dental medicine resulting from a course of education in dentistry.

The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed.

Approved schools are (1) United States and Canadian schools of dentistry listed by the Commission on Dental Accreditation(CODA), in the list published for the year in which the course of study was completed.(2) Schools (including foreign schools) accepted by the licensing body of a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico), or the District of Columbia as qualifying for full and unrestricted licensure provided the licensure requirements include a written examination measuring science achievement and a performance examination measuring clinical competence certification, and must obtain a copy of the ECFMG certificate, if claimed by the applicant.

~AND~ Completed, or you are currently completing, a residency program in general practice or specialty, or comparable experience as a dentist actively involved in treating medically compromised patients.

~AND~ Currently hold, or will hold, a current, full and unrestricted license to practice dentistry in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.

Note: Dentists must maintain current registration in the State of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active, current licensure.

Preferred Experience: Preferred experience includes successful completion of a General Practice Residency (GPR) or comparable advanced postdoctoral training, with strong preference given to dentists who have developed broad clinical competence in hospital-based or medically complex patient care environments.

VA qualification standards specifically recognize completion of an approved residency in general practice or specialty training, and VA GPR programs emphasize advanced training in comprehensive care for medically compromised patients.

Ideal candidates will demonstrate a proven ability to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary, team-based clinic environment, partnering effectively with dentists, hygienists, assistants, trainees, administrative staff, and other health professionals to deliver high-quality care to Veterans.

VA training materials and supervision policy stress coordinated care, communication with other health care professionals, and shared responsibility for quality and safety in patient care.

Preferred candidates should also have experience supervising, teaching, and mentoring dental residents, with the ability to provide appropriate clinical oversight, foster progressive resident development, and maintain accountability for patient care and treatment quality.

VA standards for dentists specifically reference the ability to train residents, and VHA supervision policy describes resident education as an organized program of guidance, evaluation, and supervision tied to patient care quality.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: perform in a fully successful manner, the individual must have the physical ability to perform job-related duties which may require light carrying (under 15 pounds), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (up to 1 hour), standing (up to 1 hour), and both legs required.

In addition, there may be exposure to the following environmental factors: working inside and outside, working closely with others, and protracted or irregular hours of work.

A health examination must be successfully completed prior to this assignment and periodically thereafter as required by the Occupational Health Clinic policy.

There may be intermittent exposure to blood and body fluids Major Duties:

The Dentist functions as a privileged Licensed Independent Practitioner within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and is responsible for providing comprehensive oral health care to eligible Veterans consistent with approved clinical privileges, professional standards, and local facility policy.

This position is intended for a dentist whose scope includes comprehensive dental care for medically complex patients, maintenance of a moderate sedation permit as required by local and state law, and supervision of dental residents in an accredited training environment.

The attending dentist has primary responsibility for the care of assigned patients and for appropriate oversight of residents involved in patient care.

CORE SCOPE OF CLINICAL PRACTICE The incumbent may evaluate, diagnose, treatment plan, and provide general dental care and other procedures specifically authorized through credentialing and privileging processes at the facility.

Practice may include comprehensive dental treatment for medically compromised patients in ambulatory, hospital-based, and, in some cases, operating room settings.

The dentist is expected to accept full responsibility for the proper care and treatment of assigned patients and to maintain accepted standards of professional care in VA facilities.

MODERATE SEDATION RESPONSIBILITIES The incumbent must possess and maintain an active moderate sedation permit when required by the jurisdiction and facility, and may provide moderate sedation only when separately trained, privileged, and compliant with applicable policy, equipment, staffing, monitoring, emergency preparedness, and documentation requirements.

RESIDENT SUPERVISION AND TEACHING This position includes service as an attending dentist in a facility conducting residency training programs.

VA qualification standards provide that attending dentists must be able to train residents assigned to the service and must possess privileges to perform all procedures being supervised.

RESPONSIBILITIES - Provides comprehensive, patient-centered general dental care, including examination, diagnosis, treatment planning, and delivery of the full scope of general dentistry procedures, with referrals to dental and medical specialists when indicated.

- Evaluates, diagnoses, and treats diseases and conditions of the teeth, periodontium, jaws, oral soft tissues, and related oral structures, and manages patient pain and anxiety through appropriate administration and monitoring of medications and anesthetic agents.

- Delivers dental care to patients with complex medical conditions, including those requiring treatment under anesthesia, collaborates with other health professionals to optimize overall health, and ensures clear, timely, and accurate documentation of clinical findings, decisions, and treatment in the electronic health record.

INTERDISCIPLINARY AND TEAM-BASED PRACTICE The incumbent is expected to function effectively in an interdisciplinary, team-based environment and to collaborate with dentists, hygienists, dental assistants, expanded function dental auxiliaries where applicable, residents, students, schedulers, nursing personnel, anesthesia or operating room staff as appropriate, and other health professionals in the coordination of Veteran care.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.

Work Schedule: 5/4/9 Tour: Monday through Thursday, 7:30am to 5:00pm, Every other Friday 7:45am to 4:15pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized